Moistener for duplicating apparatus



Filed Dec.

G. R. ROBINSON ETAL MOIS'I'ENER FOR DUPLICATING APPARATUS June 6, 1950 Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOISTENER FOR DUPLICATIN G APPARATUS Grant R. Robinson, Melrose, and Paul T. Trueman, Canton, Masa, anignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Old Town Ribbon &

Carbon 00., Inc. of Mass at Massachusetts corporation of 7 Application December 11,1945, Serial No. 635,600

to a control for the fluid supply to the instrumentalities utilized in applying a very limited amount of the fluid to the face of the sheet that is to be duplicated upon.

In duplicating machines of the herein referred to character, which employ the so-called fluid process method of duplicating, the face of the clear sheet to be duplicated upon is moistened for the purpose of dissolving a minute amount of the copying ink when engaged under pressure with the reverse characters on the master or record copy sheet.

To obtain desired and efflcient resultswith the fluid process method of duplicating, the medium of the moistened sheet is essential in dividing the amount of copying ink embodied in the master sheet characters to produce the maximum number of copies. This desired number of copies may vary up to 200 or more. There are other instances where only twenty or thirty exceptionally bright-copies may be desired as compared with a maximum number of copies where brilliancy is secondary.

While the character of the copying ink, fluid and paper to be duplicated upon has a direct bearing upon the number of duplicate copies oba supply pump. In the flrst instance barometric tainable, this may be considered in a minor dewith the master copy ink an excess of the ink will be dissolved therefrom and deposited on the clear sheet thus, while producing brilliant copies, will result in fewer copies being obtainable from the master sheet.

It is obvious from the above requirements that the control of the fluid supplied to the moistening instrumentalities is of paramount importance. Heretofore this supply control has in a manner been eii'ected by a barometric action or action is not readily adjustable, must be airlocked and is subject to continually changing pressures while a pump means, while adjustable,

requires considerable attention and further involves additional mechanisms. Further, both of these controls when associated with the machine itself present problems in the provision of an adequate supply for an'extended operation.

Accordingly, one DI the objects of the present invention is to provide a fluid supply and con trol for a duplicatingmachine that will furnish an accurately controlled and constant amount of fluid to the moistening instrumentalities and wherein the normal constant may be varied in a simple manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid control that may be disposed independent of the main fluid reservoir and sheet moistening means so that the reservoir may be replenished at will without disturbing or effecting the control.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid supply and control that may be readily adjusted to increase or decrease the constant amount of fluid feed to the moisture applicator elements of a duplicating machine.

A still further object of the invention is to.

provide a simple and efllcient fluid supply and control for duplicatorsthat has few working parts and is not dependent on air-locking or an additional supply pump in the feeding of the fluid to the moisture applicator elements of the machine.

The foregoing objects are intended as a general explanation and are not to be construed as limiting the invention thereto as other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred form of the invention is shown associated with a portion of a duplicating machine suflicient to enable those skilled in the artto understand the construction and operation thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of aduplicating machine and illustrating one form of the moistening and. printing instrumentalities.

Fig. 2 isa section taken substantially along line 2-2, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially along line 3-3, Fig. 2, together with a portion of the moisture applicator members.

The duplicating machine presently illustrated is provided with opposed side frames to, only one of which is shown, supporting a rotatable drum ll together with a coacting pressure roll l2.

In the present instance a pair of feed rolls [8, II are rotatably disposed in front of the bight formed by the drum H and its coacting pressure roll I 2. One form of applying a limited amouni of moisture to the upper face of a clear sheet to be duplicated upon employs one of the feed rolls, such as roll IS in this instance, which engages with a flbrous or absorbent material such as a wick IS. The roll l8 and the wick l are hereinafter referred to as the applicator elements.

It is essential to provide the fibrous material IS with a limited and desired amount of fluid directly in accordance with the results to be produced. To accomplish this function the flbrous material I5 has heretofore entered or dipped into a body of the fluid that itself was controlled by an air-locked supply or the fluid applied to the fibrous material directly by means employing a pressure pump.

In the illustrated embodiment of our invention the fibrous material I5 is supported in a substantially U-shaped holder Ii that extends trans versely of the machine and also supports a tubular chamber ll having a plurality of openings Ila therefrom that are associated with the flbrous material.

The present improvement embodies a supply reservoir It for duplicating fluid-disposed between the machine side frames l8 and within the machine and provided with suitable hooked members is that are adapted for engagement with one of the usual tie rods 20, employed to retain the side frames In in a spaced-apart relation, and in a manner that permits the reservoir to be readily removed when necessary. This reservoir I8 is provided with a suitable fllling opening closed by a cover 2| and anoutlet 22 that may be opened and closed by means of a manually operated valve 23.

Attached to the reservoir outlet 22 is one end of a flexible conduit 28 that has its opposed end connected to an extension 25 of a control valve 26 disposed within the housing 21 which forms an intermediate reservoir chamber 28. This housing 21 is disposed below the horizontal plane of the reservoir I8 and is provided with a hinge 29 about which the housing 21 may be rocked by means of an adjusting screw 38 having its threaded portion 30a engaging in an extension 21a of the housing 21. The control valve 26 is provided with an opening 26a. into the chamber 28 and a plunger 3| slidably engaging in the valve 28 and having an extension 3la. adapted to engage in a valve seat associated with a bore 25a in the valve extension 25. A suitable float 82 is disposed within the chamber 28 and is provided with an extension 320 that is pivotally connected to a standard 33 so that the float extension operatively engages with the uppermost crown of the valve plunger 3|. An outlet nipple 34 from the chamber 28 is connected by means of a conduit 85 to the tubular chamber H from which the flbrous material is supplied with the fluid.

In operation the reservoir I8 is fllled with the fluid and upon the opening of the reservoir valve 23 fluid flows by gravity through the conduit 24 and valve opening 28a into the intermediate reservoir chamber 28. As the body of fluid in the chamber 28 increases the float 32 is raised accordingly and the float extension 32a through its engagement with the valve plunger 3| causes the portion of the plunger llaeng'ages in its seat in the conduit opening 25a when the fluid body in the chamber has reached the normal fluid level. Fluid from the chamber 28 passes through the conduit 35 to the tubular chamber l1 and a fluid level is maintained in this tubular chamber l'l corresponding to the normal fluid level in the intermediate reservoir chamber 28. Any decrease from the normal fluid level required in the chamber 28 will cause the float 82 to be lowered and will permit the spring 38 to raise the valve plunger from its seat thus allowing a replenishment of the fluid in the chamber 28 to maintain the float 32 and fluid at the normal fluid level positions.

As previously pointed out, the housing 21 is hinged at 28 so that the housing 21 may be rocked about this pivot. When the horizontal plane of the housing is changed, as indicated by broken lines, the position of the float 32 and valve 28 are accordingly moved in either direction. The normal fluid level in the chambers 28, Ila is correspondingly increased or decreased. As the housing 21 is rocked in a contra-clockwise direction a greater body of fluid will be required in the chamber 28 with a correspondingly higher level to raise the float 82 sufficiently to actuate the closing valve plunger. Conversely, as the housing 21 is rocked in a clockwise direction a lesser body of fluid will establish a quicker closing of the valve and a lower fluid level. In each instance the fluid level in the housing 2" will maintain a corresponding fluid level in the tubular chamber I1 and thus a greater or lesser amount of the fluid will pass through the chamber openings Ila to engage with the fibrous material l5.

While there has been shown and' described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention in a preferred form, the invention.

is not to be construed as limited to such arrangement except so far as the claims may be so limited, it being understood that changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine of the character specified having side frames and moisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet to be duplicated upon, a fluid supply and control for said elements that includes a readily detachable supply reservoir disposed within the opposed side frames of the machine and having a valve controlled outlet, an intermediate chamber connected to said rwervoir on the one hand and to the applicator elements on the other hand and disposed in a determinate horizontal plane relative to and between said elements and supply reservoir, a fluid level controlled valve in said intermediate chamber whereby a substantially constant normal fluid level is maintained in said chamber and at the applicator elements.

2. A duplicating machine having fluid applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet to be duplicated uponand including a wick mounted at a flxed level in the machine, and a fluid supply system for said elements comprising a reservoir, an intermediate chamber disposed between said reservoir and said elements, a .duct between the reservoir and the intermediate chamber, a second duct between the intermediate chamber and wick, and a float valve in the said chamber for determining the fluid level in the chamber and at the wick.-

3. A duplicating machine having fluid applicaplunger spring 36 tobe compressed until the lower tor elements adapted to moisten the face of I sheet to be duplicated'upon, one oi said elements comprising a wick maintained at a flxed level in the machine, a tubular chamber communicatin with said wick and a fluid supply system for maintaining a predetermined fluid level at the wick and comprising a reservoir, an intermediate fluid chamber adiustably mounted as to height and connected both to the reservoir and to said fluid chamber, and a float valve controlling flow oi fluid from the reservoir to the said'intermediate fluid chamber in all adjusted positions of the chamber.

4. A duplicating machine having fluid applicator elements including a wick ior moistening the face of a sheet to be duplicated upon, and a fluid supply system for maintaining a predetermined fluid level at the wick comprising a reservoir, an intermediate chamber connected to the reservoir, a wick chamber separately connected to the intermediate chamber and partially enclosing the wick, and a float valve for maintaining a flxed level in the intermediate chamber oi fluid supplied thereto from the reservoir and thereby also maintaining the same fluid level in the wick chamber.

5. A machine of the character described having moisture applicator elements cooperating to moisten the iaceot a sheet to lie-duplicated upon.

6 a fluid chamber communicating directly with the said applicator elements and .adapted :to maintain a body or fluid therein, one of said elements comprising a wick located in said chamber, a fluid feed system for said chamber that includes an adjustable housing having an intermediate reservoir chamber therein with connections to said fluid chamber, a fluid actuated valve mounted in said reservoir chamber to maintain a substantially constant normal fluid level :therein and at the wick, together with an adjusting device for said housing and valve whereby said fluid level may be raised or lowered in the intermediate chamber and at the wick.

GRANT R. ROBINSON.

' PAUL '1. TRUMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gourdiat Dec. 25, 1883 Labombarde Mar. 6, 191'! Lutz Dec. 2, 1919 Bennello June 6, 1939 Trueman-et ai. Sept. 5, 1939 Number 

